Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-08
THE NEW NAVY.
Views OF the Secretary Of the Navy in
His Annual Report.
OPPOSITION 10 SPENDING MONEY IN sINGLE-rrRRETEp
MoNIToRs-flvE NEW VESSELS RECOMMENDED
COAST DEFENsEs-THE OLD NAVY


COAST DEFESsEs-rHE OLD NAVY.
In his annual report Secretary whitney states
that with the exception OF two cases. the Depart
ment has practically abandoned the idea OF the
unprotected torpedo boat, but he recommends the
continuation OF experiments in submarine boats
and he expresses opposition 10 any further appro-
priation OF money for work on the single-turreted
monitors On this subject he says:
"A first-class modern ironclad could safely an
Choir, surrounded by fleet OF these monitors
without any danger OF injury to herself, and any
one OF her guns could send aprojectile through the
less Than murder 10 send men in these
vessels nj the present time 10 encounter
any recently built ironclad. 1 appreciate
fully that IL Is only as a temporary expedienJ
that Ii IL suggested, and with the thought that In
the absence OF anything else, these might be bet
which over $4,000. 600 and probably $4,000 60o
have been spent since The close OF the war. IL Is
time TO stop II and be content only with the best
Ir every dollar Is made 10 count upon something
OF real value, waste Will stop, aud not before"
He recommends that due attention be given TO
the subject OF pneumatic guns and pneumatic gun
CARRIAGES. On the subjects OF the
NAVAL REsERvE AND COAST DISPENSE
he says: 1.-The Department has informed itself
fully OF the different systems OF organization for
coast defense ;and naval reserves at present In
force In foreign countries, and is prepared TO
formulate general pan lot similar organiza.
our own institutions. IL should resemble IN Or
ganization that OF the militia or national guard
rest upon the foundation or local interest, con-
template the employment and rapid mobillza-
ton OF steamers enrolled on an auxiliary navy
list and be calculated 10 produce the best results
upon a comparatively small national expenditure.
ask for this question The earnest consideration OF
Congress- IL may not oe out OF place, as a branch
OF tails subject, 10 call attentica 10 one OF the Incl
dental Consequences OF the policy pursued 10y
other countries IN this matter of a naval re-
serve. La time OF war troop ships or transports
Sn are gsea' maze anu annual rSuPs
ton, based on tonnage, 10 companies con-
structng new vessels. The Consideration
70 the Government Is counter agreement, per-
hitting the Government TO take essel for a
transport In time OF war upon terms named In the
agreement. The Government officials are also
consulted her mode OF construction. and she
goes on TO the naval-reserve list The payments
are incidentally In the nature OF O subsidy TO the
ship-Owner, and this, with the liberal payments
for Government trans portation Of mails, &C. keeps
q large fleet OF merchantmen ahOat as a reserve
really for O time OF war. Without ships and
trained seamen there can be no naval reserve.
he says that I'm year, only Iour OF the present
cruising ships Will be serviceable and rcconmends
the construction or five new shlps-two arnor-
cad vessels to cost, exclusive OF arnIaInent, not
moie than 81, 900 600, one 10 be built by contract
and one In the navy y ards, and three more fast
cruisers OF the highest type. Encouragement FOR
torpedo experiments Is Recommended, and sugges-
tlon Is made that the course in the Naval Academy
be reduced to tour years.
THE OLD NAVY.
In describing the condition and disposition OF
the Old vessels OF our navy the Secretary says that
the Tennessee recently sold, had short life, but
as a consumer OF money a brilliant one Her
hull was built and she WAS equipped In the New
York hayward. Her machinery Was designed and
built under contract by the eminent engineer,
Mr.. Jno. Ericsson, costing $s00,0O0 her
total original cost was 81 So. O75sl. on her
trial trip, In January, 1885,. she ran about
Loo miles She a.ta Inn "a speed aoss Of Is
hour for four hours. She encountered a peril
Gus storm, described as q hurricane, which con-
ably. The report Of her commander says: The
engines moved on finely and worked perfectly
during all the storm. Her machinery Is as perfect
as IL heed be- IL has undergone the severest tests
and nothing was found wanting. she Is the fast
est ship ] have ever seem The chief engineer
says: III the strength ana WORKMANSHIP OF Ine ma.
Is to he placed upon the performance OF any steam
machinery with which l am acquainted Two
years afterward she underwent what was called
REPAIRS and the sum OF $50, s99.6l was spent
upon her. All but $13,Uo0 OF this was put On her
hull and equipment IL was the iull price OF a new
wooden hpIl OF her size at that time This was
from 1869 to 1871. she then made cruise Of
thr, e months and went 1uto the hands OF MI. Jno.
Roach, 10 enable him TO take out the machinery
and boilers OF John. Ericsson and substitute
others OF superior character. IL was, among
other things, expected TO give tAe ship a
r o hours. When She had her trial Of
this new machinery In 1870 her maximum speed
was los. kaots. and she had had put upon Der an
her machinery ana boilers, taken in trade by Mr.
Roach at s65,O This machinery had cost
100000, had not been In actual service
SIX months had never been surveyed and con-
demned by a board or Government Officers,
nor its value fixed by any Government board,
but IL was sold TO Mr.. Roach as old iron. That
is to say, between 1859 and 1870 the Tennessee
had had three months service, and had cost In
repairs and Improvements 81, 443,5G3.2l. This
was largely In excess Of fair price for new
ship OF her characteristics Twelve years after
ward ION April 4, 1851 she Is condemned by the
statutory board as unseaworty and not worth re-
pairing, and ordered Sold having had put upon
her, between 1875 and 1887 the additional sum OF
&577, 7l6l7. She brought $:A,J25 at the: auction
sale. She had cost the Government $3.S00,0O0 IN
round numbers, and had done about ten years VI
active service, outside OF repair shops and navy
yards IL Is often the subject Of wonder what has
become OF the 10000 600 spent upon war vessels
since the close OF the war; IN view Of the fact that
there Is now no navy. This bit OF history Will
serve as an illustration.
Affair in Wet WanhimgtOn.
PISTOLS IN A BALL RooN.-The dance given BY
colOred society, known as 1.-THE Living Council OF
tDra<> uuan Lac md